WASHINGTON: Two US journalists have been shot dead during a live TV report in the state of Virginia, their employer has confirmed, according to chilling television footage of the incident and their network.
WDBJ7 TV reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were killed during an interview in Moneta, Bedford County, the TV station said. During the live broadcast, shots could be heard, sending the reporter and the woman she was interviewing running.
Police say they are investigating the incident and still searching for the suspect. An unconfirmed report says he is being chased north on the Interstate 81 highway.
Marks said Parker and Ward were "both in love with other members of the team" at WDBJ.
The woman that Parker was interviewing on a balcony at the lakeside Bridgewater Resort in the town of Moneta, near Roanoke, was reportedly wounded.
Parker was talking to the woman about tourism development for WDBJ´s early-morning newscast when the gunman seemingly closed in from behind.
Several shots were heard, as well as screams, as Ward´s camera fell to the floor, capturing a fuzzy image of the gunman, dressed in dark clothing.
On her Facebook page, Parker -- whose birthday was just a week ago -- described herself as the "mornin´ reporter" at WDBJ with an interest in ballroom dancing.
WDBJ anchor Chris Hurst tweeted that he and Parker were "very much in love," adding: "I am numb."
"She worked with Adam every day. They were a team. I am heartbroken for his fiancee," Hurst said.
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said on Twitter that he was "heartbroken over (the) senseless murders."
"Alison and Adam died this morning at 06:45 shortly after the shots rang out. We do not know the motive or who the suspect or the killer is," the station's president and general manager, Jeffrey Marks, announced on air.
"I cannot tell you how much they were loved by the WDBJ7 team... our hearts are broken," he said.
He added that the station's building was in lockdown, under police protection.
"Police have advised us that as long as this person is on the loose, we should stay in the building. We have police protection," he told the Associated Press news agency.
WDBJ7 anchor Chris Hurst revealed that he and Ms Parker had been in a relationship and had planned to marry. - AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment